John Kerry's position on

Kyoto Protocol: Based on 1990 emission statistics, the Kyoto Protocol was created as a global effort to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide as a means to limit the Greenhouse effect. The goal of reduction of 5.2% was implemented. The time frame for this reduction to occur is between 2008 and 2012. The United States participated in signing the directive, but the United States Congress has yet to ratify it for fear of an economic slump.

Candidate's Position: As a member of the senate, John Kerry voted against the Kyoto Protocol, and continues to oppose it as a Presidential candidate. Kerry has remained firm that, if elected President, he would also refuse to sign it, but he would "…reopen the negotiating process, fix the flaws and move forward". (Grist Magazine, 2003) Kerry has also stated that even if Russia agrees to the protocol, he would ask other nations to consider amending Kyoto so demands on China and a few other nations would be higher.

Quotation from the Candidate: "It's just common sense that if you are really going to do something to effect global climate change and you are going to do it in a fair-minded way…we need to have an agreement that does not leave enormous components of the world's contributors and future contributors of this problem out of the solution." (US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works 2003) 

Assessment of the Proposal:

Positive: The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) supports the Kyoto Protocol, but has also endorsed John Kerry for President based on his 92% Environmental approval rating based on their criteria. LCV approved of Kerry's participation in climate change negotiations from the 1992 Earth Summit up to and including Kyoto. 

Negative: Fern, a non-governmental organization created by the World Rainforest Movement, and representative of different European countries, states that while Kyoto is a step in the right direction, the emission reduction targets are far to small to make the impact that is desperately needed at this time, and subsequently may make the climate change problem even worse.

Comparison: Bush created an international uproar when he abandoned the Kyoto Protocol for fear of the loss of American jobs. He had proposed the creation of a new emissions standard that will reduce "greenhouse gas intensity" and takes into account job and economic stability and has a potential target of 18% over 10 years.

Link to Bush's issue page